Kisumu County in partnership with the National Land Commission and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), has successfully repossessed a public land of about 1.5 acres that had been grabbed by corrupt individuals in the Lakeside County.
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, while handing over the original title deed of the parcel to the County Department of Land, said his Administration had initiated a spirited drive to reclaim irregularly and illegally acquired public land within the County.
The prime land situated in the Central Business District, with a current market value of Sh.500 million, was meant for a public recreational facility initially known as Taifa Park before falling into private hands.
“My government has been investigating claims of individuals grabbing large tracks of public land which belonged to the now defunct Kisumu Municipal Council,” stated Prof. Nyong’o.
A task force formed by the County boss in 2017 working closely with other state agencies, has recovered several parcels and reverted ownership back to the County Government.
Most of the grabbed plots were meant for markets, schools, road reserves, and other public utilities.
Prof. Nyong’o cautioned politicians and other individuals with a high appetite for public land to desist from the practice and surrender illegally possessed pieces of land.
At the same time, a Kisumu based businessman, Mr. Naresh Patel, surrendered 0.25 Ha of land that he had acquired from the cartels to the County Government.
Prof. Nyong’o hailed Patel for his patriotic act and urged other people to follow suit and surrender all illegally and irregularly acquired public properties.
He further exuded optimism in defeating land grabbers, who have gone to courts in a vicious fight to repossess land that belongs to the public.
In the national effort to eradicate the menace in the country, EACC handed over some 39-title deeds for public property worth Sh.5.2 billion to President Uhuru Kenyatta in April 2022 that were recovered from unscrupulous individuals.
By Robert Ojwang’
